Oven feeding machine



p 28, 1 R. L. BROSEMER OVEN FEEDiNG MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1946 INVINTOR R.L..Brosem er 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS R. L. BROSEMER OVEN FEEDING MACHINE Sept. 28, 1948.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1946 xutiu 02.572.

INVENTOR R.L..Brosemer ATTORN EYS Sept. 28, 1948. os 2,450,111

OVEN FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 11, 1946' 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mvENToR RLBrosemer ATTORNEYS Sept. 28, 1948. R. BROSEMER OVEN FEEDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 11, 1946 .I'IIII wl lmlwll w Mli w IMMI- -I,M

mmvrox. R.L..Brasem er HTTYS Patented Sept. 28, 1948 2,450,111 oven FEEDING Machine ltobert L; Brosemer, Sacramento, Calif. Application December 11, 1946, Serial No. 715,383-

12 Claims.

1 This invention is directed to, and it is an' object to provides. power driven machine operative to feed loaded baking pans into a commercial bake even of the continuous baking type in automatically timed relation to travel of the constant motion, endless pan supporting conveyor which 'an ovenof this type contains.

Another object of the invention is to provide an oven feeding machine which is arranged so that itfunctions properly even though the speed .of the oven conveyor may-be varied to change the mechanism as raised and in pan advancing position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but shows the reciprocating feedmechanism .as lowered and in rebaking or transit time of the product through the oven.

A further object of the invention is to provide an oven feeding machine for the purpose described which includes a novel arrangement to control the operation of such machine in timed relation with the movement of the oven conveyor so that even though said conveyor is in'c'ontinuous operation, the machine recurringly starts and stops, with a dwell or at-rest period between its movements sufllcient to allow the workman to' load the table of the machine with a full complement of bread-baking pans. At the same time the pan feeding cycles of the machine are automatically timed-to synchronize with the movemerit and arrival of each successive conveyor tray of the oven at the feeding point.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an oven feeding machine which includes a baking pan supporting table alined with the oven door; said table being of longitudinal slotted construction, and a reciprocating feed mechanism operative from beneath the table; said mechanism having a plurality of pan advancing or pushing fingers projecting through corresponding slots tracted position. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional elevation of the ma-,-

chine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentarycross section on-line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is'an enlarged fragmentary elevation 11- lustrating the manner of mounting each end of the guide rails for vertical movement of the latacters of reference on the drawings, the oven feed; ing machine is adapted for use in connection with a commercial baking oven, as used for bread oak- 0 ried .by sprockets 5 at opposite ends; there being open-ended pan supporting trays 6 suspended from cross rods 1 which extend between said chains in a manner so that the trays 6 remain horizontal at all times. The conveyor 3 travels in a direction so that the trays 6 are moving ,up-

' wardly as they reach the end of the conveyor adon a forward stroke, and lowered below the table ona retracting stroke whereby the table is then unobstructed for reception of following pans.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an' ovenfeeding machine, which-includes novel actuating means for positively and mechanicall silch structurearid relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the'following specification and claims- In the drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of an oven feeding machine with the reciprocating feed jacent the oven door 2.

The machine which is the subject of the present invention is arranged to automatically feed loaded bread pan units P onto the trays 6 as they pass the door 2. Such machine comprises the follow,- ing: s

The oven feeding machine is disposed outwardly of the oven in advance of, and in vertical allnemerit with, the oven door 2, such machine including an open, upstanding frame, indicated generally at 8, whichframe includes comor posts a.

1 At the top the frame 8 supports a horizontal pan receiving or supporting table Ill comprised of a multiplicity of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced bars ll, whereby said table I0 is in effect of longitudinally slotted configuration, the slots" being indicated at II. The bars II are supported, at their rear ends, by an upstanding plate I while the forward ends of said bars are sup:

BJBO, 1 1 1 a 3 ported by transversely ll. At the sides of the table it! there are pan locating stops II: the loaded bread pan units P being delivered to the table Ill, between said stops. successively, and with a predetermined interval or time therebetween, by hand or any suitable conveying assembly (not shown).

The bread pan units P as received on the table II are fed therefrom into the oven by means of the following described reciprocating feed mechanisznz- Beneath the slotted, pan supporting table lo the machine includes. adjacent opposite ends thereof, a pair of horizontal, longitudinally extending guide rails ii of laterally inwardly facing channel configuration, and said guide rails Ii are connected by a cross bar l1, fitted at the ends with slide blocks II which run in said channel-shaped rails ii, whereby the cross bar i! may be advanced and retracted relative to the oven door 2.

The guide rails l6 are mounted for vertical movement or reciprocation by means of guides ii, of generally L-sha-pe in plan, which are fixed in connection with adjacent end portions of the ide rails l6, and run against vertical bearing plates 20 on corresponding corner posts 8 of the frame. The guides it are fixed in connection with the guide rails it by cooperatively notching the same, as at 29, and connecting by machine screws 22.

The cross bar ll is non-turnable and carries a plurality of upwardly and forwardly curved pusher fingers 23 positioned to engage through the slots i 2. When the guide rails it are in raised position; as in Fig. l, the fingers 2i project above the pan supporting table ID for working engagement with one end of a bread pan unit P, whereas when said guide rails it are in a lowered position, as in Fig. 2, the pusher fingers 23 are disposed below said table it for free retracting movement.

The assembly of the guide rails l 3, cross bar ill, and the pusher fingers 2i is recurringly raised up and down, i. e. vertically reciprocated. by the following arrangement:

A horizontal cross shaft 24 extends through, and is supported by, the frame 8 some distance below the table i0, said cross shaft being adapted to be driven by means of an electric motor 25 coupled to said shaft by a reduction gear unit 26.

Adjacent opposite ends the horizontal cross shaft 2 carries rotari cams 21, and vertical plungers 2-8 having rollers 29 on their lower ends cooperatively engage said cams 21. Theplungers 2| run through guide sleeves 30 fixed in the frame. and at their upper ends the plungers are attached to corresponding ones of the guide rails iii. A compression spring 3| cooperates with each plunger 29 and urges the same downwardly toward and into constant engagement with the corresponding cam 21. The cams 2! are of matching configuration and are formed so that with each revolution of the horizontal cross shaft 24 said cams will act to raise the pusher fingers 23, maintain them in such raised position for a certain time, and then perm-it the same to retract under the action of the springs i. This sequence of motion of the pusher fingers 23 bears predetermined timed relation to actuation of the remainder of such machine, as will hereinafter appear.

The assembly of the slide blocks l8, cross bar i1, and the pusher fingers 23, is reciprocated back and forth, 1. e. advanced and retracted in successive and recurring order, by means of a pair of spaced upstanding fingers upstanding swing arm units 42 mounted in the frame and pivoted at their lower ends. as at II. for swinging movement in a longitudinal vertical plane. The swing arm units 32 are telescopic and each includes an upper section N which is mounted for relative vertical sliding motion. The upper sections 34 are turnably connected, as at 35, with the cross bar l1, whereby upon to and fro swinging of the units 32, said cross bar H, together with the pusher fingers 23, are reciprocated, as desired.

Such swinging of the swing arm units 32 is accomplished by corresponding cranks 36 on the driven cross shaft 24, and said cranks 36 include crank pins 3'! carried in slide blocks 38 which run in longitudinal slots 38 in said am units 32. Thus, as the shaft 24 and cranks 36 rotate in the direction indicated, the arm units 32 swing back and forth in a longitudinal vertical plane to ad- Vance and retract the pusher fingers 23. The cams 21 are disposed relative to the cranks 3-8 so that at the beginning of each forward or advancing stroke of the arm units 32 the guide rails it are raised, projecting the pusher fingers it above the table in for pan engagement, as shown in Fig. 1.

The guide rails it remain raised until the arm units 32 reach the forward limit of their movement, whereupon the guide rails it are dropped by the cams so that such fingers, upon the retracting stroke of the arm units 32, are below the table,

as shown in Fig. 2.

The oven feeding machine is actuated, through its cycle of movement. to feed loaded bread pan units P from the table it onto the trays 6 as each of the latter is presented adjacent the oven door 2; the transfer of pan units P from the table iii to trays 5 being accomplished without stopping the oven conveyor 3, which is possible for the reason that said conveyor 3 travels relatively slow, whereas the described feeding machine is relatively faster in its action.

When each of the trays 8 reaches its dotted line position of Fig. l, the oven feeding machine begins a cycle of movement; the pusher fingers is advancing supported bread pan units P from table it onto said tray while it is traveling slowly.

Starting and stopping of the machine at the proper time is accomplished by means of a control circuit, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8, wherein the endless conveyor 3 is shown as being driven at constant but adjustable speed by means of a motor 40 and an endless drive ii. The endless drive M is in turn connected in driven relation to an endless timing chain 42 which drives a timing cam or wheel 43. As each tray 6 reaches its loading position adjacent the oven door 2, the timing cam 43 actuates a starting switch M, which effects closing of the main control switch 55 in the energizing circuit 46 for the motor 25.

When the motor 25 is started, the machine runs through a complete cycle of operation, as described, and when said cycle is completed a finger 41 on the final drive gear of the reduction gear unit 26 operates a stopping switch 45, which causes opening of the main control switch 45,

plete cycle of movement. This is because the finger 'l' is on a gear of the reduction gear unit 28 which makes onlyone full turn during each cycle of operation of the machine, which cycle includes advancing of the. pusherflngers 23 in raised position through a forward stroke, and retraction of such pusher fingers in a lowered position through a rearward stroke.

The cranks are so designed and positioned relative to the cranks 36 and the pivot point 33 of reciprocate the guide rails and horizontally reciprocate the cross bar in predetermined timed order whereby said cross bar traverses a cyclic path comprising a raised advancing stroke and a lowered retracting stroke, and a plurality of pan unit pusher elements upstanding from the cross bar in alinement with the slots in the table, the pusher elements projecting through the slots and above the table for pan unit engagement and swing arms 32, that the forward or feeding speed of-the pusher fingers will be slower than the retracting stroke thereof. This provides a fast cycle of movement, without the feeding speed itself being excessive.

- From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction or the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

-l. Oven feed mechanism comprising an upstanding frame, a baking pan unit supporting table on the frame, and power driven feed mechanism mounted on the frame arranged to engage a supported pan unit and advance the latter from thetable in a predetermined direction; the table being longitudinally slotted, and said mechanism including an upstanding, telescopic swing arm pivotally mounted for swinging motion in a longitudinal vertical plane, power means operative to reciprocate the swing arm, a pusher element, means mounting the pusher element for guided cyclic movement through a path comprising a raised advancing stroke and a lowered retracting stroke, the pusher element projecting through the slotted table for pan unit engagement on the advancing stroke and being disposed under the table on the retracting stroke, and means operatively connecting' the pusher element and swing arm so that reciprocation of the latter recurringly advances and retracts the pusher element.

2. Oven feed .mechanism comprising an upstanding frame, a baking pan unit supporting table onthe frame, the table having a plurality of longitudinal, transversely spaced slots therethrough, a horizontal cross bar beneath the table,

means mounting the cross bar for power actuated 'through, a horizontal cross bar beneath the table, a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal advancement during said advancing stroke and being below the table on the retracting stroke.

4. Oven feed mechanism comprising an upstanding frame, a baking pan unit supporting table on the frame, the table having a plurality of .longitudinal, transversely spaced slots therethrough, a horizontal cross bar beneath the .table, a pair-.of transversely spaced longitudinal guide rails, means mounting the guide rails on the frame for guided vertical reciprocation, power actuated means operative to simultaneously and correspondingly reciprocate the guide rails.

means mounting the cross bar at the ends on the corresponding guide rails for horizontal recipro-e cation, other power actuated means operative to horizontally reciprocate the. cross bar, both of said power actuated means working in predetermined timed order whereby the cross bar trav-.

' erses a," cyclic path comprising. a raised advancing stroke and a lowered retracting stroke, and a plurality'of pan unit pusher elements upstanding from the cross bar in alinement with the slots in the table, the pusher elements projectin actuated means operative to simultaneously and correspondingly reciprocate the guide rails, means mounting the crossbar at the ends on the corresponding guiderails for horizontal reciprocation, other power actuated means operative to horizontally reciprocate the cross bar, both of said .power actuated means working in predetermined timed order whereby the cross bar traverses a cyclic path comprising a raised advancing stroke and a lowered retracting stroke, and a plurality of pan unit pusher elements upstandinsfrom the cross bar in alinement with the slots in the table, the pusher elements projecting through the slots and above the table for pan unit engagement and advancement during said advancing stroke and being below the table on the retracting stroke; there being a power driven cross shaft mounted in the frame below the guide rails, said first named power actuated means including vertically movable plungers corresponding to each guide rail and engaged therewith from below, and plunger actuating cams on the cross shaft.

guide rails mounted in the frame for simultaneous and corresponding vertical reciprocation, means mounting the cross bar at the ends on the corresponding guide rails for horizontal reciprocation, power means operative to vertically 6. Oven feed mechanism comprisingan upstanding frame, a baking pan unit supporting table on the frame, the table having a plurality of longitudinal, transversely spaced slots therethrough, a horizontal cross bar beneath the table, a pairof transversely spaced longitudinal guide rails, means mounting the'guide rails on the frame for guided vertical -reciprocation, power actuated means" operative to simultaneously and correspondingly reciprocate the guide rails, means mounting the cross bar at the ends on the corresponding guide rails for horizontal reciprocation, other power actuated means operative to horizontallyreciprocate the cross bar, both of said power actuated means working in predetermined timed order whereby the cross bar traverses a cyclic path comprising a raised advancing stroke and a lowered retracting stroke, and a plurality of pan unit pusher elements upstanding from the cross bar in alinement with the slots in the table, the pusher elements projecting through the slots and above the table for pan unit engagement and advancement during said advancing stroke and being below the table on the retracting stroke; there being a power driven cross shaft mounted in the frame below the guide rails, said first named power actuated means including vertically movable plungers corresponding to each guide rail and engaged therewith from below, and plunger actuating cams on the cross shaft, the cams being operative to raise the plungers,

, and springs being provided to lower the latter.

"I. Oven feed mechanism comprising an upstanding frame, a baking pan unit supporting table on the frame, the table having a plurality of longitudinal, transversely spaced slots therethrough, a horizontal cross bar beneath the table, a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal guide rails, means mounting the guide rails on the frame for guided vertical reciprocation, power actuated means operative to simultaneously and correspondingly reciprocate the guide rails, means mounting the cross bar 'at the ends on the corresponding guide rails for horizontal reciprocation, other power actuated means operative to horizontally reciprocate the cross bar, both of said power actuated means working in predetermined timed order whereby the cross bar traverses a cyclic path comprising a raised advancing stroke and a lowered retracting stroke, and a plurality of pan unit pusher elements upstanding from'the cross bar in alinement with the slots in the table, the pusher elements projecting through the slots and above the table for pan unit engagement and advancement during said advancing stroke and being below the table on the retracting stroke; there being a power driven cross shaft mounted in the frame below the guide rails, said last named power actuated means including a transversely spaced pair of upstanding swing arm units pivoted in the frame adjacent their lower ends for'swinging motion in a longitudinal vertical plane, such arm units being telescopic and connected at the upper ends to the cross bar, and corresponding cranks on the cross shaft connected to the arm units in a manher to reciprocate the same.

8. Oven feed mechanism comprising an upstanding frame, a baking pan unit supporting table on the frame, the table having a plurality of longitudinal, transversely spaced slots therethrough, a horizontal cross bar beneath the table, a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal guide rails, means mounting the guide rails on the frame for guided vertical reciprocation, power actuated means operative to simultaneously and correspondingly reciprocate the guide rails, means mounting the cross bar at the ends on the corresponding guide rails for horizontal reciprocation, other power actuated means operative to horizontally reciprocate the cross bar, both of said power actuated means working in predetermined timed order whereby the cross bar traverses a cyclic path comprising a raised advancing stroke and alowered retracting stroke, and a plurality of pan unit pusher elements upstanding from the cross bar in alinement with the slots in the table, the pusher elements projecting through the slots and above the table for pan unit engagement and advancement during said advancing stroke and being below the table on the retracting stroke, there being a power driven cross shaft mounted in the frame below the guide rails, said first named power actuated means including vertically movable plungers corresponding to each guide rail and engaged therewith from below, and plunger actuating cams on the cross shaft,'said last named power actuated means including a transversely spaced pair of upstanding swing arm units pivoted in the frame adjacent their lower ends for swinging motion in a longitudinal vertical plane, such arm units being telescopic and connected at the upper ends to the cross bar, and corresponding cranks on the cross shaft connected to the arm units in a manner to reciprocate the same. V

9. Oven feed mechani-sm'comprising an upstanding frame, a baking pan unit supporting table on the frame, the table having a plurality of longitudinal, transversely spaced slots therethrough, a horizontal cross bar beneath the table, a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal guide rails mounted in the frame for simultaneous and corresponding vertical reciprocation, means mounting the cross bar at the ends on the corresponding guide raiis for horizontal reciprocation, power means operative to vertically reciprocate the guide rails and horizontally reciprocate the cross bar in predetermined timed order whereby said cross bar traverses a cyclic path comprising a raised advancin stroke and a lowered retracting stroke, and a plurality of pan unit pusher elements upstanding from the cross bar in alinement with the slots in the table, the pusher elements projecting through the slots and i above the table for pan unit engagement and adguide rails being of laterally inwardly facing channel shape, and said cross bar mounting melans including slide blocks running in said guide re s.

l0. Oven feed mechanism comprising an upstanding frame, a bakin pan unit supporting table on the frame, the table having a plurality of longitudinal, transversely spaced slots therethrough, a horizontal cross bar beneath the table, a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal guide rails mounted in the frame for simultaneous and corresponding vertical reciprocation, means mounting the cross bar at the ends on the corresponding guide rails for horizontal reciprocation,

I power means operative to vertically reciprocate the guide rails and horizontally reciprocate the cross bar in predetermined timed order whereby said cross bar traverses a cyclic path comprising a raised advancing stroke and a lowered retracting stroke, and a plurality of pan unit pusher elements upstanding from the cross bar in alinement with the slots in the table, the pusher elements projecting through the slots and above the table for pan unit engagement and advancement during said advancing stroke and being below the table on the retracting stroke; said power means including a power driven cross shaft in the frame, cams on the cross shaft arranged to vertically reciprocate the guide rails, and crank on the cross shaft arranged to horizontally reciprocate the cross bar.

11. Oven feed mechanism comprising an upstanding irame, a pan unit supporting table on the frame, the table being vertically slotted lengthwise thereof, a plurality of pan unit pusher elements adapted to project from below the table through the slots for engagement with a pan unit on the table, a supporting member below the table, the pusher elements being mounted thereon, said supporting member being mounted for movement in a substantially horizontal plane and power means operative to reciprocate said member and elements through a cyclic path including an advancing stroke and a retracting stroke.

12. A feed mechanism as in claim 11 including power means to vertically raise the supporting member prior to the initiation of its advancing stroke whereby to project the pusher elements through the slots, and other means to vertically 20 lower the supporting member at the end of its advancing stroke to withdraw the pusher elements to a point below the slots.

ROBERT L. BROSEMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

